Redmond (WA) - Though it is no surprise to eagle-eyed Xbox followers, Microsoft today officially announced the availability of a new low-cost Xbox 360 bundle targeted at casual gamers.

The Xbox 360 Arcade package includes the "Core" version of the console, with an included 256 MB memory unit.  It also contains an HDMI port for full-on HD output.  

It also comes with five Xbox Live Arcade titles: Boom Boom Rock, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man, and Uno.  Users do not need to connect their system online in order to download these titles like other Xbox 360 users do.  The games also normally cost users around $6 a piece.

Though not specifically mentioned by Microsoft, is is believed that the new bundle will replace the current "Xbox 360 Core" system, mainly because of the duplicate price point.  The Arcade package is available for around $280, the same as the previous bare-bones Core model.  Other versions of the system are the Pro, which contains a 20 GB hard drive, the Elite, which packs 120 GB, and a special Halo 3 themed version of the device.

Microsoft has had difficulty capturing the casual gaming audience, most notably because of the Wii's overwhelming dominance in the market.  Marketing to that crowd will be one of the company's biggest advertising campaigns this holiday season.

MCE Extender?

Oct 23, 2007 10:57     

Will this work as a media center extender? Would it be a good choice?
Beer_Gut report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Good

Oct 23, 2007 11:20     

MS now offer the core bundle at $199.99, the Pro System at $249.99 and the Elite for $349.99. You will match Nintendo with the Pro and beat Sony's strip down price point. Hell, you threw 1.3 billion into defective product, so what is more on the hardware when it will ultimately drive software sales? Go for it MS.
Richard report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

What die size?

Oct 23, 2007 12:21     

Anyone know if this nw series is just the repackaged old stuff or will it use a small die size?
Random_guy_01 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: MCE Extender

Oct 23, 2007 12:36     

As far as I know this is just an update version of the core system so it should work as a MCE Extender just like the rest of the 360's. Personal I dropped MCE for Tversity which all 360's, PS3's, and Wii's (kind of) work with. It's also a little easier to use IMO.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re:MCE Extender

Oct 23, 2007 14:11     

I just hooked my 360 up to TVersity and I love it. All you need is an XP machine, a LAN connection and a 360 and you can play almost any media over your LAN and on your TV. I've found TVersity kind of hard to get right with all the codecs, but once I did it works great. I'm now watching divx files on my TV.
matt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How many new models are they going to introduce!

Oct 23, 2007 15:47     

It seems they introduce another Xbox every week. If they're not selling now I don't think this is going to help. For some reason they are really afraid of the PS3 for $399.
Dale report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re:MCE Extender

Oct 23, 2007 18:34     

I'm almost certain it works with Vista Media Center. Actually, to me, the extender function is the only reason to buy the XBox360. It is such a cool functionality. As far as TVersity is concerned, it may be a good program but MCE UI is so great it isn't needed. You can convert all your video to WMV9 and they stream beautifully to the 360. But now that v2 extenders are nearly here (Linksys and DLink have them) unless your a gamer the XBox 360 as an extender era is almost over.

Spark Wilson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re- Not so good

Oct 23, 2007 19:13     

MS. won't take any Wii fans and MS. Won't phase Sony PS3 sales. Price drop it all you want, your glory are limited. Christmas is just around the corner, 360 will come in last i say. After nearly three years they only have about 6 quality titles for their nosiy machine.
barney report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No, its the wii they are going after.

Oct 23, 2007 21:24     

As if the bundle description didn't give it away, not to mention the new kid-oriented games and videos you can download, they are going after the Wii with this bundle. To be honest, i don't think they are too worried about the PS3. They have taken so many exclusives away from them, and kept parity with graphics quality and smoothness of game play. 500,000 in a month is pretty good in terms of sales. Halo effect superseding will of course drop that number substantially, but theres still people that don't have one and that wanted to pick one up.

Blah report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Barney

Oct 23, 2007 21:27     

Are you smoking crack? Only six quality titles on the Xbox 360? I see you are a fan boy. I was poking fun with the pricing and whether or not MS will come in last or not...we will have to see and that is the fun of it all.
Richard report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

they can't compete with wii

Oct 24, 2007 09:01     

regardless what hardware they will sell or what games they will try to make and sell for casuals, they simply can't compete with the wii. the wii has a different control that the 360 and ps3 can't compete with and with games like zack and wiki, the other 2 high power competetors simply can't mimic those type of games. besides, most publishers have no interest in giving support for creating casual games for the 360 because their target is hardcore gamers and for a company to invest in casual gamers on a hardcore machine is simply a waste of time and effort.

someguy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

why by an xbox 360 for watching divx on a tv, just ...

Oct 25, 2007 00:19     

why by an xbox 360 for watching divx on a tv, just get a svideo cable and an audio cable and use your laptop....
erulehto report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How bout just one model that is reliable?

Oct 26, 2007 08:40     

I have been quietly stewing for a week to vent... My original Xbox360, bought last Xmas lasted almost 8 months without issue, then came the 3 ring circus of death. MS did the right thing by me, no out of pocket cost, had it back in 2 weeks, things could have been worse. I played 3 games of Madden and it happened again!!! Why don't they just release one sku that costs $29 and only people that currently own a 360 can buy it to use for a backup system when theirs invariably dies? Argh!

Dev report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

PS3 is being crushed in the USA

Oct 29, 2007 14:59     

Barney = Fanboy if you cant see all the quality 360 titles that have been released since its PROPER launch date. Oh and the 360 is selling MORE machines in the USA alone than the PS3 is selling in total worldwide every week now. Now to the PS3, The system was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America. So in a couple of weeks its been officially out a year although the game devs had it MONTHS earlier for development and so far EVERY so called AAA title for it has FLOPPED. And what is left for PS3? FF number 18 or something like that and MGS4, Two old games from the PS1 revamped yet again WOW. Expect to see the new 360 bundles crush the PS3 offerings and as the new Falcon chips are being confirmed to be in certain Halo bundles and proberly all new released xbox(with game bundles) from this Month we could even see another price cut and certainly much better cooling and quieter. system...

Bertie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0